How does air restistance affect a projectile?

[lindsey0307]

For maximum hang time & distance (with no air resistance) a projectile should be launched at an angle of 45°. However, when air resistance is present, how does this affect the angle at which the projectile is launched at (to achieve maximum hang time and distance)?

I would think that the projectile would need to be launched at an angle less than 45° since air resistance affects the horizontal distance, but I don't believe I'm correct.

Thanks!

 

[Spinnor]

See pages C7, C8, and C9 in,

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/firecontrol/partc.htm

The rest of the booklet is an interesting read.